Progress, progress
I had a good writing day today, completing about 11 pages by 3:40. That brings my total to date up to 33 281 words or about 133 pages! I’ve passed the halfway mark. Happy reading (or writing)
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Writing
In pertinacia victoria! — So get back to work
You have to check out the latin motto generator . I like the way it makes me look sooo smart to title this blog in latin. This motto is designed motivate. It means: in determination, victory. Today, after a pre-lunch start of 1053 words (5 pages), I’ve been getting distracted by surfing for writing blogs
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Novel Writing Update
I’m a big fan of I should Be Writing (ISBW), Mur Lafferty’s podcast and blog of the same name. The “Mighty Mur,” as she calls herself, has just released the first in a series of PDF episodes outlining her discoveries as a “wanna-be fiction-writer” who is now a published author. It’s been very encouraging to
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The White Tiger
I just finished reading Aravind Adiga’s The White Tiger. It is one of my favorite types of novel, a literary page-turner set in India with a unique voice and point-of-view. I recommend it highly and can see why it won the Man Booker Prize for 2008. Currently I’m reading the Watchmen graphic novel which is
Writing the Breakout Novel
Despite the cheesy title, Donald Maass’ book, Writing the Breakout Novel, is a guide to writing good novels, not a guide to selling out. Maass is not fond of generic thrillers and has a soft spot for literature as a genre. A novelist and New York agent, Mass is in a unique position to help
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Ages of Wonder — Czerneda & St. Martin
Now reading: Ages of Wonder , edited by Julie Czerneda and Rob St. Martin. This is one of a pile of books I brought back from Ad Astra. It will take me months to get through my stack of new SF novels, especially since I’m supposed to be writing. So far I’m really enjoying this
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Fool — Christopher Moore
I have to recommend Christopher Moore’s Fool: A Novel. It’s a rollicking pastiche of Elizabethan and Pagan sensibilities, played for maximum sex and mayhem. I was impressed that an American who has not lived in England got the mix of Shakespearean and colloquial English right. Historically accurate language would get in the way of farce,
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Ad Adstra and Inspiration
I’ve taken a long hiatus from this blog, mostly because of school. This year I’m directing my new play, “Invisible Aliens Stole My Gym Shorts.” Between school, the play and having a home life, I haven’t blogged since the fall. Another reason is that one of my students came across this anonymous blog! At first
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I am America (And so can you!)
I recently finished reading Stephen Clarke’s Merde Happens and Stephen Colbert’s I Am America (And So Can You!), two humorous books that take an ironic look at American life by two men both called Stephen C. Conspiracy? I certainly think so. The thing about humour is it doesn’t change people’s minds. Nobody laughs at something
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Vertige des Auteurs
I enjoyed Georges Flipo’s Le Vertige des auteurs. The anti-hero, Sylvain Vasseur, is a middle-aged functionary forced into early retirement. Vasseur has very simple tastes. Until the day of his retirement, he shows interest only in cycling, sex with his long-suffering wife, beer drinking and watching the Tour de France. At his retirement party, his
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